Record rainfall creating water hazards

The Kent County Health Department and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality issued a no-contact advisory for the Grand River until further notice.

"Wastewater treatment facilities are doing their best to keep up with the excess capacity," said Adam London, acting Health Officer for the Kent County Health Department. "The amount of sewage overflow is not just an environmental concern, but also a public health concern. Contact with the water could lead to illness in animals and humans."

Surface waters are exposed to many sources of contamination. During a flood event, sewage runoff and overflow from lakes, rivers, and streams may be carrying bacteria such as E. coli and cholera, protozoa such as Giardia, and viruses such as hepatitis. If surface water enters your well, it may contaminate the water that you rely on for drinking.

The Ionia County Health Department may issue a precautionary boil water notice through the local media. Watch television, listen to the radio, and read the newspaper.

If flood waters have reached your well, if you notice any change in appearance or taste of your water, or if you are just unsure about the safety of water in your area, you should boil all of the water you use for drinking, making beverages, cooking, brushing your teeth, washing dishes, and washing areas of the skin that have been cut or injured. The water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute and then cooled as necessary. Bottled water can also be used for all of these purposes.

After flooding has subsided, it is important to understand that if your well has been flooded, it is still unsafe. You must disinfect and then sample your well. Contact the Ionia County Health Department at 616-527-5341 for information on how to sample your water and where to take the sample for bacteriological testing. The only way to be sure that your well is safe to drink is to have it tested.

Wells are not the only risk, however. If your basement has been flooded, here are some very important safety tips for cleanup:

Make sure gas and electric are turned OFF! Do not go into a flooded basement with the electricity still on.Keep everyone out of the flooded area. There may be RAW SEWAGE in the flood water, making it VERY HAZARDOUS.Do NOT flush toilets. The contents of the toilet could end up in the flooded basement.Wash your hands with clean or disinfected warm or hot water and plenty of soap. Be sure to wash under rings and under your fingernails.Throw out ALL food and drinks that have been touched by flood water. NEVER taste food that has been exposed to flood water. If in doubt, throw it out.Use flashlights, never lanterns, matches or lighters.Wear rubber gloves and waders or boots.Cover all open sores or cuts with an adhesive bandage.Make sure that all windows are open to provide ventilation.In addition to the no contact advisory, London suggests staying away from creeks and rivers until flooding recedes.

"Right now, water is continuing to rise. Walking near these locations can become dangerous in a matter of minutes. We also advise against recreational use of rivers, such as kayaking," London added.

In Ionia County, Bertha Brock Park and the Ionia Free Fair grounds remain closed. Flooded areas may contain debris or be subject to strong currents or rapidly rising water, and should not be traveled at this time.

For information on what to do after the flood, visit http://www.accesskent.com/Health/EmergencyPrep/pdfs/AftertheFlood.pdf.